TULSA, Okla. (UCFKnights.com) - B.J. Taylor scored a season high 23 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome 16 turnovers in a 77-66 loss to Tulsa for the UCF men's basketball team Saturday at the Reynolds Center.
After starting league play 5-1, the Knights (14-7, 5-4 AAC) have lost three straight to Memphis, SMU and now Tulsa (12-8, 6-2 AAC). UCF remains winless on the road against Tulsa, as the Golden Hurricane lead the all-time series in Tulsa, 9-0.
The Knights led by as many as six points in the second half, when Taylor single handedly went on an 8-1 run to give UCF a 57-51 advantage with 6:37 to play in the game. Tulsa outscored UCF 26-9 the rest of the way.
The Golden Hurricane regained the lead at 59-58 and never relinquished it. After a pair of free throws by Taylor with 1:55 to play, the Knights made a defensive stop and had a chance to turn the tides and get back within one point, but a three-point attempt by Matt Williams caromed off the rim.
Tulsa outscored the Knights 11-4 in the final 1:04 of the game to hold on for the 77-66 victory. It was the Golden Hurricane's 12th straight home conference victory.
The 77 points for Tulsa marked the highest point total for a UCF opponent this season and the Hurricane's 42.6 field goal percentage was the second best shooting performances against the Knights this year.
Tulsa took advantage of UCF's 16 turnovers. The Knights were outscored 23-10 in points off turnovers.
Pat Birt led four Tulsa players in double figures with 19. Corey Henderson and TK Edogi scored 14 and 10 off the bench, respectively, leading to 42 bench points in total for the Golden Hurricane.
Taylor led the Knights with 23 points on 7-of-16 shooting and 7-of-8 from the free throw line. Williams finished with 12 on just 2-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc, while A.J. Davis added 10 points and 11 rebounds for his third double-double of the season.
UCF will continue its road trip Wednesday when the Knights take on Houston at Hofheinz Pavilion. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on ESPNU.
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